The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-16
Testimony Showing the Nature Of the Bust
ness in Which the Plaintiff Was Engaged.

NEW YORK, Feb 15-The case of ]. a. Les
ter against Gen. Ben Butler was continued to-
day. in the United States Circuit Court. before
Judge Coke. Testers cross-examination by
General Butler proceeded. The rattle which
Testers counsel stated that he had made in
prison, Lester said that he made two years ago.
and the which his wife recognized while he
was in jail, and which was the means by which
she knew that he was alive, was similar to this
A letter from Lester to his wife on military mat
tiers was placed in evidence. It was dated April
l5, 1861. Another letter was produced which
was taken from his wife's trunk. In it the writ
er asked for circulars and advised him to go in
hot for secession. The answer was to be sent to
Miss Dupree, at Raleigh, N. G. A circular from
the Union Manufacturing Company, with which
Lester was connected, was read. 1t was an ad-
verrisement Of the machine to be used in max
ing arms It solicited orders from the Southern
troops, and said that the company was ready to
supply any number OF arms. After General
Butler had read the circular Lester asked to
make an explanation. He said he was superin-
tendent of the Union Manufacturing Company,
and that he never was foreman in Colts arm
DRY, but that the foreman referred to was Mac
West.
A letter was read which Lester wrote, which
stated that he would take lease of the armory
Of the State of Virginia. He guaranteed to fur
nish the State with rifles at $50 each. he would
erect machinery. etc, and would allow the State
81 on each musket. Lester said he wrote the
letter at the dictation of S. c. Robinson. A
contract between the State OF Virginia and a
party not known was read, relating to the lease
Of the State armory 1t was in Testers hand
writing. and had no signature. Lester also
stated that this was written for Robinson. A
contract to manufacture 5000 muskers for the
State of Virginia by j. c. L. & CO. was put in
ovid oc%o NH ko6 yhA n
Co. were. said he did not know. He acknowl
edged he had written the letter. There was no
signature to it. After it was read Lester said it
was copy Of a contract he copied for Robinson.
On being pressed by General Butler. Lester
stated that he had met j. G. L. & Go. at hotel,
and they allowed him to copy the contract but
who they were he could not remember. The by
laws Of the Union Manufacturing Company we're
produced, showing that the duties Of the super
intendent were to employ all hands aud make all
contracts. Lester SAID that he copied them
The witness said: II never wrote a letter to
any one on my own account They were all
written for Mr. Robinson and at his dctation.
was only the employe, and was not responsible
for what MIR. Robinson did"
Lester was asked about an estimate showing a
profit and loss account for the manufacture of
pistols during several weeks. It was 10 his
handwriting. but he said that he did not know
anything about it. On being pressed closey.
he said he might have copied it from some other
paper. 1t showed that the gross profits of three
months would be over SAC, 1000 This WAS dated
Dec 26, 1862. This was produced to show that
the company with which Lester was connected
was engaged in the manufacture of pistols as
well as other arms Bills of sale were put in
evidence showing the purchase by Lester of four
negro slaves in the month of March. 1863 for an
aggregate of So. $50. A list of subscribers to the
Union Manufacturing Company was put in EVIL
dence, showing that Lester held $50 shares. A
contract between Robinson and Lester was
shown. to prove that Lester was to receive a
- - thA IF fha
Other bills Of sale to Lester were produced,
which he claimed to have purchased as agent for
others. In one case,-a lot of dress goods he
said he purchased for a Mr.. Moncastle. of Rich
Lester never after saw the goods or the
money The amount was between $1,000 and
$40, 600.
General Butler here dryly remarked that the
document was dated Oct. 81, 1862, at the time
Lester claimed to be starving.
kilograms to Kidder e Martin. of Whining
ton N. c.. from Lester ordering cotton, anc
notifying them that he had sent about eighty
thousand dollars to them. were placed in evi
dence. The witness then told of his coming
North, of his negotiations for getting his family
through the lines, and OF his arrest and confine
| ment in Fort Hatteras. After a time he wal
| taken before a military court-martial and wal
| tried. The witness heard that General Butte
| bore him malice. and that he paid the counse
| furnished him 800. The witness had secured
other counsel previously, and was present dur
| ing the trial. He asserted that General Butte
| had the record made out differently. The rec
| ord Of the court-martial was produced, shown.
that Lester applied for counsel The witnes
| said that the records were false and accused
| General Butler Of Misrepresentation
/ General Butler replied that he found tina
| Testers defense covered sixteen pages, an,
/ asked if Lester did not instruct his counsel t
| put in such a defense.
| Lester replied in the negative. He told hi
| counsel that he was convicted before he wa
| tried, and that defense would be useless. III
| afterward wrote to General Butler all about hi
going to Richmond.
Ida Bowman's SHIT for Alinony.
CHICAGO, Feb. 15.-The suit OF Ida Bowma
for TEMPORARY almonY and solicitors fees acains